The drama on America’s Got Talent is heating up, and this time it’s not the contestants who are bringing the fire. Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, two of the reality T.V. show’s most beloved judges, are at each other’s throats after Simon decided to play by his own rules—again.
In a move that has everyone talking, Simon shamelessly snatched Howie’s Golden Buzzer, sparking a feud that’s spilling over from the stage to the red carpet.
Simon Decided To ‘Borrow’ Howie’s Golden Buzzer
Howie, who’s been judging the show since 2010, is no stranger to the occasional on-screen tiff. But when Simon, the show’s creator and resident rule-bender, decided to “borrow” his fellow judge’s Golden Buzzer pick, things went from playful banter to serious business. And, of course, it all happened in front of millions of live TV viewers.
During Tuesday night’s live episode, the competition was fierce, and the Japanese dance troupe Airfootworks absolutely wowed the judges. Just as Howie was getting ready to bask in the glory of his brilliant pick, Simon decided to make a move.
“I am just about to get myself fired,” Simon cheekily remarked as he reached for the Golden Buzzer—Mandel’s Golden Buzzer, to be exact.
Cue Howie’s fury. The comic, known for his quick wit, was not amused. Simon’s attempt to hijack the act would have sent the group straight to the finals, bypassing the usual process. Host Terry Crews stepped in, and after some heated deliberation, he confirmed that Howie would keep his Golden Buzzer act, despite his co-judge’s brazen attempt.
Simon Confronted Howie Backstage
But the drama didn’t stop there. Once the cameras were off, the tension followed the judges backstage. On the red carpet, Howie wasn’t shy about voicing his frustration. He called out Simon for trying to swipe his act, complaining to the press and anyone else who would listen.
When Simon showed up to pose for photos, Howie interrupted his media interview just to shout across the room, “Why did you pick my act? You tried to steal my Golden Buzzer!” Simon, playing it cool as ever, ignored Howie and continued to pose with fellow judge Heidi Klum and Terry, but you could cut the tension with a knife.
Howie wasn’t done. He stomped back onto the red carpet, planting himself squarely in front of Simon to block his photos. Heidi, ever the peacemaker, tried to intervene, but Cowell was already fed up, grumbling, “You cannot do that.”
The usually lighthearted Howie didn’t let up, even making a joke about how he accidentally touched Simon’s hand during their buzzer battle, a big no-no for someone with his germaphobic tendencies. “In 15 years, that is the only hand I ever touched by accident,” he quipped.
Meanwhile, Cowell defended his actions with his signature nonchalance, telling an interviewer, “Look, they were the best act and they deserved a Golden Buzzer.”
As the curtain falls on this AGT episode, one thing’s clear—Simon may be the boss, but even he can’t escape a little backstage drama.
